New Survey Exposing Quebec’s Islamophobia Is Just Tip of Iceberg, Muslim Group Says
Recent stats showing nearly 50 percent of Quebecers are “bothered” by the hijab offers but just a glimpse of a bigger problem, according to a Muslim women’s rights group.
A yet-to-be-published survey, ordered by the Quebec Human Rights Commission and reported by the Montreal Gazette, shows that nearly half of Quebecers have an “unfavorable” view of religion. But not all religious intolerance is created equal: while a mere 5.5 percent of Quebecers expressed their dislike for the Christian cross, a whopping 48.9 percent said they bristled at the sight of Muslim veils.
“I wasn’t surprised,” said Hanadi Saad, president of Muslim support group Justice Femme. “It confirms what we see out on the field.” What’s not illustrated, she said, is the fact that real-life manifestations of this disdain are becoming increasingly violent.
